BY CHINONSO ELEKWACHI
More than 65,000 voters turned out for Okigwe Senate bye election. And the results showed a close tie between the All Progressive Congress, APC, and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. The APC polled about 35,000 votes, while the PDP candidate, Emmanuel Okewulonu, got 31, 000 votes.
This reinforces the fact that the two political parties remain the most dominant in the State and the outcome of the election shows the APC support base in the State is waning and diminishing.
Though elections do have varying colourations, projections and circumstances, the Okigwe bye election offered a mixed bag of political expositions and revelations about the APC and the PDP, which will serve as a mirror for 2023/2024 elections in the State.
The PDP seems to be resonating in the State and the party based on the outcome of the Okigwe bye election appears to enjoy considerable dose of support and acceptance. If the PDP could engage in a neck to neck tie with the APC in Okigwe zone, a zone known not to be its stronghold, then there could be fire on the mountain for the APC in future elections in the State.
The surge in sympathy for the PDP from Imo electorate could be attributed to cumulative political factors which manifested in the State after the 2019 governorship election. The removal of Emeka Ihedioha as Governor by the Supreme Court, and his replacement with Hope Uzodinma of the APC, has continued to reshape the perception of Imo electorate about the quest for power by political gladiators in the State.
However, analysts contend that despite the cobweb surrounding the victory of the APC in Okigwe bye election, which compelled INEC not to return Ifeanyi Araraume, a former senator, and Frank Ibezim, as winner, it should be worrisome to leaders of the party that despite the combined efforts of political foes in its fold who united for the success of the party for self serving reasons, the APC merely scratched victory in Okigwe by election.
Based on the results of the election, it is clear that if APC leaders in the State despite their political differences had not united for the party, the PDP would have sailed to victory in Okigwe.
Greg Obilor, a political analyst said “It should be worrisome to APC stakeholders that despite the fact that Governor Hope Uzodinma, Minister of State, Education, Hon Emeka Nwajiuba, Senator Ifeanyi Araraume, Tony Chukwu, the political group of Senator Rochas Okorocha, members of House of Representatives from the zone, APC House of Assembly members, Local Government Chairmen and Councilors, were united for APC but divided over their “candidates”, APC would have been resoundingly trounced in Okigwe senate bye election”
With three years to the next election in Imo State, the depth of the crisis in Imo APC, if not resolved, will further diminish its acceptance rating in the eyes of the Imo electorate. And certainly when this happens, the PDP may just be the pull over the wool.
“However, analysts contend that despite the cobweb surrounding the victory of the APC in Okigwe bye election, which compelled INEC not to return Ifeanyi Araraume, a former senator, and Frank Ibezim, as winner, it should be worrisome to leaders of the party that despite the combined efforts of political foes in its fold who united for the success of the party for self serving reasons, the APC merely scratched victory in Okigwe by election”